Alternatively-mounted compactor door arrangement

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a domestic refuse compactor door arrangement for alternatively pivotally mounting the door to the compactor frame about a vertical axis adjacent either side of the frame. The door may thus be adapted to swing open and closed from either side. The door includes a pivotally mounted standard which removably receives a refuse receptacle. Both the door and the standard are symmetrical about a horizontal midplane to obviate the need for alternation thereof when the door is pivotally mounted to open in either direction.

[ Dec. 2, 1975 .4 312/274 Rehberg ct al. 49/382 3,602,568 8/197] Bernhardsson A 3 629 972 l2/l97l ALTERNATIVELY-MOUNTED COMPACTOR DOOR ARRANGEMENT [75] Inventors: William A. Eckerle; Lauren W.

Guth, both of Louisville, Ky.

Primary Examiner--Paul R. Gilliam [73] Assignee: General Electric Company, Assistant ExaminerCarl F. Pietruszka Louisville, Ky.

June 5, 1974 [22] Filed:

ABSTRACT 211 Appl. No.: 476,527

There is disclosed a domestic refuse Compactor door arrangement for alternatively pivotally mounting the is ady thus be door to the compactor frame about a vertical ax jacent either side of the frame. The door ma TJ ww 3/ //U7 @2 7 2M 3 4 m A 30 W320 4111 U W 4m 7 n; B 7 n 4 3B A .0 2 L C U S L U m l. 2 l 5 5 i.

adapted to swing open and closed from either side.

A47B 96/16; EOSD 7/02 Field of Search The door includes a pivotally mounted standard which removably receives a refuse receptacle. Both the door and the standard are symmetrical about a horizontal midplane to obviate the need for alternation thereof when the door is pivotally mounted to 0 direction.

PA l9 I2 02 2 2] 2 m 0 l 9 2 u G ,1 8D 2 33 ,1 43 7 21 HB 00 Q4 22 1 pen in either References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 312/274 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 3,425,765 Levy.................

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,923,357

ALTERNATlVELY-MOUNTED COMPACTOR DOOR ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Domestic refuse compactors have enjoyed increasing popularity during the past few years. Such domestic compactors normally include a cabinet having a front opening, a door for closing the opening, and an opentopped container movable into and out of the cabinet. The container is adapted to receive a platen or compacting mechanism mounted in the cabinet for compacting refuse therein. Previously, drawers constituted the refuse receptacle and the door constituted the exposed end of the drawer. Recent developments have made it apparent that it is more expedient, however, to provide a separable refuse receptacle which can be removed from the compactor, when it is filled, for easy disposal of the refuse compacted therein. Also, it is advantageous to have the receptacle mounted directly to the door so that it can swing freely from a compacting position inside the compactor to a loading position at least partially outside the compactor, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,855. Another such arrangement is suggested by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 464,507, filed Apr. 26, 1974.

Along parallel lines, it has become customary in household appliances, having swinging doors, that such doors may be easily reversed so that they swing open alternatively either to the left or to the right. Providing reversibly opening doors on such appliances as refrigerators or freezers has been relatively easy since it is merely a matter of putting the door pivot axis on the opposite cabinet edge. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,455,061

3,430,386; and 3,378,954 are representative of such SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention includes a compactor door, having a standard pivotally attached thereto, with both the door and the standard being symmetrical about a horizontal midplane so that the door may be inverted and. pivotally attached to the opposite side of the compactor frame upside-down from its first position to allow it to swing open in the opposite direction.

More specifically, the invention includes a domestic refuse compactor comprising a frame having a back, first and second spaced sides and an open front defining a refuse compacting chamber; a door pivotally hinged to the frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, and means for alternatively pivotally mounting the door to the frame about a vertical axis adjacent either side of the first and second spaced sides of the frame, the door including standard means pivotally mounted in spaced relationship to the pivotal mounting means of said door, said standard means being symmetrical about a horizontal midplane for removably securing a refuse receptacle thereto irrespective of which side of the frame the door is pivoted adjacent. I

The door arrangement of this invention effectively combines the desired features of having a household appliance whose door can be adapted to swing open inv either direction and of having a refuse compactor whose refuse receptacle is mounted to the door for easy accessibility.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a domestic refuse compactor having a refuse receptacle mounted on the door thereof, the position of the receptacle when the door is open being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing the door opening in the opposite direction;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view substantially along line 33 of FIG. 1 showing how the refuse receptacle is mounted to the door. The door is shown in full, and various hidden lines have been omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a standard suitable for use in the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a standard suitable for use in the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a plan view of a compactor 10 having as major components a cabinet or frame 12, a door 14, a refuse receptacle 16, and receptacle mounting means 18 for mounting the receptacle on the door. Compactor 10 is provided with a suitable compacting mechanism (not shown) for compacting or compressing refuse in the receptacle 16. Also, suitable controls (not shown) are provided for energizing the compacting mechanism in any suitable fashion.

Cabinet 12 is desirably of rectilinear configuration having a top wall 22, side walls 24, 26, a back wall and a bottom wall or floor 30. Cabinet 12 accordingly provides an opening 32, which is preferably rectangular,

providing access to a compacting chamber 34. The door 14 comprises inner and outer spaced panels 36,

38 and upper and lower panels 40, 42 providing a door compartment 44, housing part of the receptacle mounting means 18, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The door 14 is mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis by a pair of upper and lower brackets 46 cooperating with receiving pins 48 (only the upper bracket and receiving pin being shown).

The mounting arrangement of this invention is illus-' trated in FIGS. 3 through 5 and comprises a standard or column mounted to the door 14 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, spaced from the axis about which the door pivots, by upper and lower pivot connections 92. The standard 90 comprises upper and lower U-shaped brackets 94 extending into the door compartment 44. Each of the brackets 94 surrounds an upstanding pin or stub shaft 96 and is secured thereto in any suitable fashion (only one such pin being shown in FIG. 1).

Advantageously, pins 96 are resiliently supported by means (not shown) within door compartment 44 in such a manner that standard 90 attached thereto is resiliently supported on the door 14 for vertical movement between a first position in which the refuse receptacle 16 is not in contact with floor 30 and a second compacting position, in which refuse receptacle l6 rests on floor 30. Standard 90 is biased toward the door pivot connection 49, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by torsion springs 112 best seen in FIG. 3. The standard 90 includes a central U-shaped channel 120 for receiving a suitable projection disposed upon the refuse receptacle as will be explained hereinafter. Standard 90 also includes a pair of planar wings 122 which include slot means 124 adapted to receive corresponding means associated with the refuse receptacle. The wings 122 also provide a pair of oppositely facing similarly offset slots 126 to receive corresponding means when the door is inverted. Also secured to the standard 90 are upper and lower hook-shaped brackets 128 for receiving complementary parts attached to the refuse receptacle.

In this regard, receptacle 16 (FIG. 3) is preferably a one-piece, polymeric resinous material molding substantially cylindrical in shape although it may be tapered slightly to facilitate being removed from its mold and to facilitate removal of compacted refuse therefrom. Receptacle 16 includes an arcuate closed side wall 50, a bottom wall 52, and an open top 54. Suitable circumferential stiffening ribs 56 may be provided on the exterior of the side wall 50 to increase its circumferential strength. A bracket 58 integral with the side wall 50 conveniently extends circumferentially about the receptacle 16 providing a groove 60. received by upper or lower hook-shaped brackets 128, as the case may be, and thereby supporting receptacle 16 near its bottom.

Surrounding the open top 54 of container 16 is clamp means 62 which serves a number of functions including clamping a flexible bag 64 to the receptacle 16; providing support for the receptacle 16 against downward and twisting movement; providing increased circumferential strength for the receptacle 16 adjacent the open upper end thereof and providing a handle means for lifting the receptacle 16 out of load-supporting relationship with mounting means 18.

Clamp 62 also includes a mounting member 82 for cooperation with slot means 124 to attach the upper end of the receptacle l6 thereto. The mounting member 82 comprises an arcuate section 84 secured as by welding or the like to the circumference of clamp 62. Mounting member 82 further includes a projection 86 which is received in U-shaped channel 120 of mounting means 18. The arcuate section 84 also includes a pair of depending legs 88 (FIG. to be received in slot means 124 of mounting means 18. As can be seen, projection 86 prevents twisting movement of the receptacle 16 during compacting while the legs 88 prevent the receptacle 16 from tilting away from mounting means 18 and also assists in providing vertical support for receptacle 16. It can be seen that mounting means 18 and door 14 comprise upper and lower halves which are functionally symmetrical and axially symmetrical about a horizontal midplane. Accordingly, in the employment of this invention, if one desires that door 14 open to the right as opposed to opening to the left, receptacle 16 may be removed from mounting means 18, upper and lower brackets 46 detached from cabinet 12, the door 14 inverted, upper and lower brackets 46 reattached to cabinet 12 at the right front corner thereof and receptacle 16 replaced in mounting means 18. it can then be seen that the upper hook-shaped bracket 128 and portion of standard 90 extending above the upper pivot connection 92, which seemed superfluous in FIG. 3, now becomes operative to engage bracket 58 and support receptacle 16 at its lower end. Similarly it can be seen that the lower slot means 126 depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, which also may have seemed superfluous heretofore, now receivedepending legs 88 to support receptacle 16 at its upper end. Thus, door 14 is easily inverted so that it may pivot in the opposite direction as shown in FIG. 2.

It should also be noted that identical abutment means 132 and are provided so that no modification of cabinet 12 is necessary to accommodate the receptacle 16 inside the cabinet when the door is pivoted from the other side.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A domestic refuse compactor comprising:

a frame having a back, first and second spaced sides and an open front defining a refuse compacting chamber;

a door pivotally mounted to the frame for movement between a closed position and an open position;

means for alternatively pivotally mounting the door to the frame about a vertical axis adjacent either side of said first and second spaced sides of the frame;

a receptacle movable between a compacting position within said compacting chamber and a loading position at least partly outside said compacting chamber; and

receptacle mounting means mounting said receptacle on said door, said mounting means having (1) standard means pivotally mounted to said door in spaced relationship to the pivotal mounting means of said door and (2) corresponding means associated with said receptacle, said standard means being symmetrical about a horizontal midplane to receive said corresponding means of said receptacle in both its upright and inverted positions, thereby removably securing said refuse receptacle to said door irrespective of which side of the frame the door is pivoted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard means includes a U-shaped channel extending longitudinally thereof configured to receive a cooperating projection of said corresponding means associated with said receptacle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard means comprises hook-shaped brackets at each of its upper and lower ends and said corresponding means associated with said receptacle includes a bracket integral with said receptacle sidewall, said hook-shaped brackets and said bracket providing an interlocking connection for removably securing said refuse receptacle to said door.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard means includes offset slots configured to receive said corresponding means associated with said receptacle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said corresponding means associated with said receptacle includes a clamp means, secured to the open top of said receptacle, said clamp means including a mounting member having an arcuate section secured thereto and a pair of depending legs adaptable to be received by said offset slots.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard includes apertures therein configured to receive said corresponding means associated with said receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said corresponding means associated with said receptacle includes a then an arcuate path as the door is pivoted to its fully open position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said standard is biased toward the door pivot connection by torsion springs.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for alternatively pivotally mounting the door to the frame about a vertical axis include a pair of upper and lower brackets mounted to said door and cooperating receiving pins mounted to said frame. 

1. A domestic refuse compactor comprising: a frame having a back, first and second spaced sides and an open front defining a refuse compacting chamber; a door pivotally mounted to the frame for movement between a closEd position and an open position; means for alternatively pivotally mounting the door to the frame about a vertical axis adjacent either side of said first and second spaced sides of the frame; a receptacle movable between a compacting position within said compacting chamber and a loading position at least partly outside said compacting chamber; and receptacle mounting means mounting said receptacle on said door, said mounting means having (1) standard means pivotally mounted to said door in spaced relationship to the pivotal mounting means of said door and (2) corresponding means associated with said receptacle, said standard means being symmetrical about a horizontal midplane to receive said corresponding means of said receptacle in both its upright and inverted positions, thereby removably securing said refuse receptacle to said door irrespective of which side of the frame the door is pivoted.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard means includes a U-shaped channel extending longitudinally thereof configured to receive a cooperating projection of said corresponding means associated with said receptacle.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard means comprises hook-shaped brackets at each of its upper and lower ends and said corresponding means associated with said receptacle includes a bracket integral with said receptacle sidewall, said hook-shaped brackets and said bracket providing an interlocking connection for removably securing said refuse receptacle to said door.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard means includes offset slots configured to receive said corresponding means associated with said receptacle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said corresponding means associated with said receptacle includes a clamp means, secured to the open top of said receptacle, said clamp means including a mounting member having an arcuate section secured thereto and a pair of depending legs adaptable to be received by said offset slots.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard includes apertures therein configured to receive said corresponding means associated with said receptacle.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said corresponding means associated with said receptacle includes a clamp means secured to the open top of said receptacle, said clamp means including a mounting member having an arcuate section secured thereto and a pair of depending legs adaptable to be received by the apertures in said standard.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said standard means is pivotally biased toward the pivotal axis of said door, and said compacting chamber includes receptacle abutment means therewithin, whereby said receptacle received by said standard is moved in a linear path, when moving within said compacting chamber, and then an arcuate path as the door is pivoted to its fully open position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said standard is biased toward the door pivot connection by torsion springs.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for alternatively pivotally mounting the door to the frame about a vertical axis include a pair of upper and lower brackets mounted to said door and cooperating receiving pins mounted to said frame. 